The grass is always greener
Meaning
This idiom suggests that people tend to believe other people's situations or possessions are better than their own, leading to a constant sense of dissatisfaction.
Origin
Imagine an old country fence, separating two modest plots of land. On one side, a farmer surveys his pasture, perhaps a little dry from a long summer, or dotted with weeds he's meaning to pull. His gaze drifts over the weathered wood, to his neighbor's field—and there, it seems, the blades are richer, the green a deeper hue, the entire stretch more lush and inviting. This simple, timeless visual—the yearning glance over the fence—forms the core of the proverb. While the exact wording evolved over centuries, the sentiment of believing what lies just beyond our grasp or in someone else's possession is inherently superior, has been a human constant, finding its most popular expression in the early 20th century, a vivid metaphor for perpetual dissatisfaction.
Examples
- I keep thinking about moving to a new city for work, but I have to remember that the grass is always greener.
- She often complains about her small apartment, forgetting that the grass is always greener and her friends likely face their own housing challenges.